Providing Hospital Gowns to Help with Covid-19 in Kenya

VIDEO: Nandi County Governor, Stephen Sang speaking about the donation of medical gowns from Love Kenya Foundation (formerly Lee Sisters Foundation).

This Week, Medical Gowns Arrive in Kenya

Over 2,000 hospital gowns arrived in Kenya at a critical time. The hospitals in Nandi County are currently preparing for Covid-19 but their resources are extremely limited and the need is dire. The gowns are intended for patient use, however, due to lack of critical supplies, health officials are considering also using them as a PPE (personal protection equipment) layer to protect doctors and nurses as they care for ill patients. Of course, in this case, the gowns would need to be properly and carefully sterilized but would allow the health workers to be protected from the spread of infection.

While the CDC advises that gowns are always used in a hospital setting, we understand that the gown itself is not going to stop the virus. Compared to the option of having no gown at all, these will allow hospitals in Kenya to provide patients with an easy to wash and wear garment. They also can be used by health care workers as a layer under the isolation-grade gown to allow them extended use of the outer layer.

About Medical Gowns

According to the FDA, gowns are examples of personal protective equipment used in health care settings.  They are used to protect the wearer from the spread of infection or illness if the wearer comes in contact with potentially infectious liquid and solid material. They may also be used to help prevent the gown wearer from transferring microorganisms that could harm vulnerable patients, such as those with weakened immune systems.  Gowns are one part of an overall infection-control strategy.

Some clothing and fashion companies, such as Burberry have converted their focus to manufacturing gowns to meet the need related to Covid-19. In the Phoenix area, volunteers have mobilized to make medical gowns as Covid-19 cases grow.

Together We Can Make a Difference

The gowns were packaged and shipped, thanks to a broad effort. We specifically wish to recognize Jan Fredrickson’s donation of the garments, the backing of our financial donors which made the distribution possible and our partnership with Governor Stephen Sang and Minister of Health, Ruth Koech in Kenya. Without the cooperation and help of our community and partners, these potentially life-saving measures would not have been possible.

If you’d like to support our work, please consider a financial donation. As most of you know, during 2020 our focus has been completing the children’s rescue center. However, because of Covid-19, construction has temporarily halted. All schools in Kenya are closed and children are at home or with a caregiver. Many of these children are not receiving the meals they normally would have had in school, so we are providing food support during this difficult time.

We know it’s a long shot, but if you know anyone with access to medical equipment that can be used to fight Covid-19, please let us know. We are able to immediately ship equipment such as respirators, personal protective gear, masks, etc. If you have any questions, please contact us!